Refrigerating apparatus



Emma 9, 1925.

H. P. CULVER REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April, 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R m HA Z a I 7 4.

WITNESSES l a a V B A TTORNEYS June 9, 125 1,541,452 H. F. QULVER REFRIGERATI NG APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a/ INVENTOR fir. f? Cub/er.

A TTORNE YS Patented June 9, 1925. I

TATES HOWARD PAUL CULVER, OF PARKER-SBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF 011? E-HALF TO J. H. RANDOLPH, OF PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 29, 1924. Serial No. 709,731.

To all to/1on2 it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Howar PAUL CUL- visa, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Parkersburg, in the county ofthe compressed gases and operating mecha-.

nism for the compressor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a casting enclosing-a compressor and in which leaf valves are employed for controlling the flow of gas to be comprcssed through the pistons to the compression cylinders and for controlling the discharge of the compressed gas through the cylinder he is.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a casting including compressor cylinders and a crank case for the driving shaft of the compressors. which is partially filled with oil, with valves in'the piston and cylinder head for controlling respectively the admission and discharge of the gases to the compressor, and a chamber 10- cated beyond the cylinder head adapted to receive oil from the crank caseto provide an oil seal between the compressor cylinder and the pipe line carrying the compressed gas to prevent return of the compressed gases to the compressor cylinders.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a double acting compressor in which the gases are alternately compressed for supplying with compressed gases a self-container chamber in a casting which includes the compressm' cylinders, crank use and water jacket for the co1npressor cylinders.

Another object'of the invention is the provision of a hollow casting in which are integrally incorporated the compressor cylinders and crank case isolated from the remaining portion of the chamber in the casting which forms a cooling jacket for the crank case and cylinders, with coils carrying the compressedv gases from the compressor cylinders immersed in the cooling Water so that the temperature oi the gases and compressor cylindersare sulficiently reduced for an ellicient and economical production of a refrigerating. medium.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a casting forming a unitary structure including a pair of oppositely di posed compressor cylinders with pistons working in said cylinders and a casting integrally' and interiorly formed of the main casting providing a crank case to which the evaporated gases after having accomplished their Wok in the refrigerating plant are directed, the gases entering angularly disposed passages through the pistons to the compressor cylinders, with a leaf valve preventing return of the gases during compression.

This invention will be best understood from'a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that'the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

. In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the compressor unit partly in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the compressor unit with parts broken away to disclose the interior construction.

Figure 3 is an end view in elevation of the compressor unit partly in section.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a disc located at the end of each compressor cylinder.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the disc shown in Figure at with a cooperating valve;

Figure (3 is an enlarged section of a com-' pressor piston.

Figure T is an end view of a piston.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a casting forming the housing for the compressor the coils carrying the compressed and the cooling water for the compressor so that the device forms a compact and unitary structure. The top of the casting is open and provided with a peripheral flange .3 having threaded passages adapted to receive bolts 0 which have their heads countersunk in a cover plate 4..

The cover plate'is provided with bosses 5 having threaded passages to receive the bolts. 6 which lock a motor base plate 7' to the cover plate. motor 8 having a twin groove pulley 9 for driving the shaft which operates the corn pressor piston.

The casting 1' is provided with a water chamber 10 which embraces substantiallyv all of the interior of the casting except the integrally formed castings providing a crank case 11 and compressor cylinders 12 and 13 A partition 14; spaced from the base 15 of the casting provides a chamber 16 below the .vater chainher 10 for storing the compressed gases which are in liquid form before they, are directed to the refrigerating plant.

The ends of the casting adjacent the heads of the cylinders 12 ahd 1?, are provided with circular openings which are closed by cover plates 17. A cylinder head 18 is secured by means of holtslQ to an annular flange 20 projecting laterally from the ends of the cylinders 12 or 13 and thecover plates 17 are provided with a perforated boss 21 adapted to receive a thread-- ed screw 22 having its inner end screwed into a threaded passage in a boss 23 on the cylinder head 18 and a nut 24 locks the plate 17 to an end all of the casting 1 which has an annular rih 2-5 engaged by an annular flange 26 on the closure plates 17.

By removal of the screw 22 and bolts 19 the cylinder heads 18 may be removed and the discharging valves of the compression cylinders may be inspected, renewed or repaired when desired or necessary.

The casting 11 is formed integrally with the partition 14: and the casting 1 and has one end open as shown in Figure 3and is closed by a cap or plate 27. The inner side wall of the casting 1 is'provided with internally threaded bosses 28 which are adapted to receive the bolts 29. Nuts 30 on-the bolts 29 lock the plate 27 to; the outer face of the casting l. The inner wall of the plate 2'? is provided with an annular flange 31 forming a shoulder which is adapted to engage the inner periphery of the opening in the side wall the casting. integrally .nied with the cover plate 2? is a hearing 32 which. e sends axially of the plate and in line with the axis of the snhstaniially circrr lar casting 1.1 forn'iing the cranl: case of the driving mechanism.

The inner end of the hearing 32 where the same projects into the crank cam 11 is provided with an enlarged here as shown -at to receive a hall hearin which is mounted on the inner end oi? a drive shatt 35* Betweemthe bore cc of the hear. ing L32 and the shaft 35 are a plural- The base plate carries a ity of metallic and non-metallic washers which form an absolute seal to prevent the loss of lubricating oil past the bearing A spring embracing the shaft 35 has its inner end in engagement with the outer brass washer 38 while its other end is adapted to engage a washer 39' abutting a second ball bearing 4&0 located on the outer end of the shaft 35 and held in place by a lock nut 41 which threads on the shaft 35.

A flanged ring; 12 which is screwed to an annular boss 43 on the end wall of a housing is adapted to cooperate with the nut ll for maintaining the hearing in position.

A gland 25 engages the internal threads of the sleeve or ring 4 A disc fly wheel 46 is secured uponthe outer free end of the shaft 35 and is provided with a pair of grdoves 46 which are similar in cross section to the grooves .9 of the pulley 9 on the motor 8. V-shaped belts are entrained over the pulley 9 and the fly wheel M5.

The housing 44 forms an extension of the cap plate 27 and is provided with 'a cover 47 at its upper end. A plug 48 is threaded into an opening in the lower end of the housing 2 2.

Upon the inner threaded end it? of the sliait 35 is screwed a driving disc 59 having an eccentric or crank pin 51 screwed into a threaded perforation transversely of the disc and project/inc suliiciently beyond said disc to receive a hall hearing roller 52 which is adapted to he received within a yoke 53,

formed by the connected ends of the piston rods 54 and 55. Rotation of the roller around the center of the shaft 35 reciprocates the piston rods 5 t and 55 in a horizontal manner. The abutting forked ends of the piston rods are connected together by means of bolts 56. A piston 57 is integrally formed at the end of each piston rod 54 and 55 and is provided with a plurality of passages 58 extending; from the rear end .39 o? the piston through the working shown at 60. These passages are extended through the piston 57 at an acute angle to the axis of said piston, with the outer ends of the passages being" in a line adjacent the axis of the piston rod 54. l

A narrow reed valve 61 rectangular in shape is secured at one end l'iy'ineans of a holt 62 while its other end is maintained. against vibration by a holt (l3. Said valve extends across the openings oi the passages 58 and maintains the same closed during the compression stroke; of the piston.

ihe outer flanged ends 20 of the compression cylinders 12 are provided with a groove in. which is adapted to be seated an annular flange 65 projectino' inwardly from the cylinder head 18. By .rorming the groove 4 an annn' r shoulder 66 is provided and with its outer-ends machined to receive a disc 67. This disc is provided with two openings 68 face at diametrically opposite points and are closed by an annular disc or valve 69 which is circular in formation and formed of thin sheet spring steel. The valve 69 is secured to the disc 67 by means of a screw 70. A spring 71 engaging the inner wall 72 of a chamber 7 3 formed in the cylinder head 18 j embraces the head of the screw and engages the valve 69 and maintains the disc 67 in engagement with the annular flange 66 on the end of the cylinder 12 or 13. The

disc 67 is provided with notches 74 at diametrically opposite points on said disc adapted to receive pins 75 which project laterally from the flange or rib 6 6 on the end of the compression cylinder 12. The pins engaging the notches 74 prevent rota; tion of the disc 67. The heads of the bolts 62 and 63 are of such a character that when the compression pistons 57 are moved to the ing in the cylinder head 18 and is connected to a discharge pipe 79 by means of a gland 80. Cylinder 152 is connected by means of a discharge pipe 7 9 with a cross head 81 while cylinder 13 is connected by means of a pipe 82 to said cross head whereby the compressed gas which is now being cooled' is forced through the cross head and which is then discharged through a plurality of coils of pipes 84 and 85. These pipes are formed into coils at the upper ends of the water chamber 10, the coils being connected at. their lower ends to a cross head 86, which is connected by a cored rib86 to chamber 16 integrally formed with the casting 1. This chamber is adapted to form a storage tank for the compressed or liquid gases before they are directed to the refrigerating plant connected with'the compressor.

A valve cage 87 is threaded into an open- Ling S8 in the end wall of the lower end of the casting 1 and is provided with a screen 89 projecting into the storage clnnubcv 16. The 87 is provided with a valve seat. 90 adapted to be engaged by a valve 91. A port 92 formed in the Valve cage 82 is provided with connections 93 which are directed to the refrigerating plant. A stem 94 of the valve 91 has a. threaded enlarged portion 95 screwed to a threaded portion in the bore 96 of the valve cage. The outer end of the valve stem 94 as shown 97 is provided with a rec-tang portion adapted to be engaged by 5.31116 7- able tool for opcrating the valveto closed or open position. A threaded cap or plug 98 is screwed into the internally threaded open end of the valve cage 87, and is adapted to seal the cage against the loss of fluid. When it is desired to operate thevalve 91 the cap screw 98 is removed and a suitable socket wrench is inserted within the bore of the valve cage and engages the rectangular end 97 of the stem 94 ofthe valve.

The casting 1 within the water chamber 10 is provided witha rib 99 which is bored, as shown at 100 to form a passage for the return of the evaporated gases through an opening 101 in the casting 11 of thelcranlc case so that the exhausted gases-are returned I to the crank case to be compressed in the compression chamber 102 of the compression cylinders 12 and 13.

A valve cage 103 has a threaded end screwed'into a threaded portion of the pas-v sage 100 where said passage opens to the end wall of the casting 1. The cage is provided with a valve seat 104 engaged by a valve 105. This valve is provided with a stem 106 located in a bore 103 and is op 'erated in a manner similar to the operation of the valve stem 94 of the valve cage v'87. A cap nut 107 closes the outer open cnd'ot the cage 103 and when removed the end of the valve stem may be engaged by a'sockct wrench for operating the same. The valve cage 103 has an evtcnsion, as shownat 108, to which is connected a pipe line 109 which is connected with the exhaust end of the refrigerating plant and through a passage 110 in the needle 109, the-exhausted gas enters through the valve cage past valve into the passage 100 and to the crank. case 11.

It is essential in operating a compressor for refrigerating machines that the temperature of the compressor pistonsand of the gas I to be compressed be maintained at a low degree so that the gases will be readily compressed and forced from the compression chamber of the cylinder. Otherwise ifany gas remained in the compression cylinders, the gas would expand upon a vacuum being crca ed in the compression chamber and. react to lnevent the inflow of gases to the compression chamber past the usual valves for the purpose, It will he secn'that lll' tllt) present constrmtion that the working faceof the pistons 57 move at the completion of its work stroke in close-contact withthe disc 67thcreby forcing all of the compressed gases past the disc 67 and through the opening 69 in said disc and through the chamber 7 3 and into either of the'pipes 79 or 82 to the cross head 81.. This is made possible by the fact that the heads of the bolts 62 and (33 enter the respectiveperfora-i tions 68 in the disc 67.

The oil in the crank case 11 as shown at i {stored in the chamber 16.

a predetermined level and is substantially -maintained at this level by fresh supplies at various times. As this oil is splashed over the connecting rod 54 and into the compression cylinders 12 and 13 the oil is carriedthrough the passages 58 past the leaf valve (51 and into the compression chambers 10% of said cylinders. This-oil is forced with the compressed gases into the chamber 73' and after a certain length of time chamber 73 will be substantially filled with oil and as the compressed gases are forced into said chamber they pass through the oil and into the respective outlet pipes 79 and S2. The oil filling in. the chamber 73 acts as a seal and prevents the loss of fluid such as the compressed gas. The gases pass up through the oil in the charm her 73 and some of the oil is forced up wardly with the gas, but such oil drains back'into the chamber so that sutlicient oil is retained in the chamber with the gas acting against the volume of oil.

The spent or evaporated gases passing through the passage ltil) enter the crank case and carry some of the oil through the passages into the compressionchambers. Since the pistons act in opposite directions the gas from the crank case 11 will enter one compression chamber upon the suction stroke while the compressed gases are being forced past respective Valves in its cylinder haul through the discharge pipes and into the coils S+l and 85 where they are finally Some of the oil is carried through the coils and into the chamber 16 and out with the liquid gas to the refrigerating plant where it recovercd in a manner which is well known in the art.

The screen 89 prevents foreign. matter from being rarried from the chamber 3 through the leads directed to the retrigerating plant.

It Will be seen that from '..1e construction. a selt zontaired. compressor unit is formed and combined within a single casting w 11 includes the crank ease, compressor cylinder and a storage chamber for the liquid The interior of the casting Ltorms a water jarket tor the cylinders 12, l and the crank case Ill. the interiors ol. which being isolated from the water jar-tel. As shown at 1 t1 the cylini'lerr-i l2 and 123 are spa ed above the lioor ll'ol the water chamber so that. the natcr maycirrulaie all around the cylinders and the cylindm' heads. lfiurthermore the coils 81- and it? which carry the compressed gases to the st rage chamber 16 are located above the rompre: cylinders and. crank case and are lll\"lf\\l embraced by the water of the jacket.

The motor a has its base plate secured to the removable top of the casting l. t the motor, together with i nected with a pipe for permittingthe warmer areas of the water to 'escape to the usual sewerage system. The cooling of the Conn 7- pressed gases in the coils 8 1 and. 85 by the water together with the pressure upon the gases from the cylinders 12 and 13 con- (lenses the liquid before the liquid enters the chamber 16. i

It at any time liquid escapes through passages to the compression cylinders the liquids are forced past discs 31' which are raised from their seats thus permitting the escape of the liquid without injury to the cylinder heads. Non-metallic'packing rings 114 and are located in theboi 26 on shaft 35. A spacing ring 117 separates rings 114 from rings 115. A babbit washer 116 located at iii) the extreme inner end of the bore 36 and in engagement with an adjacent shoulder on the shaft and bore 3b seals the here from oil leakage.

Perforated lugs 1520 and 121 projecting 1 from the bottom 15 of the casting 1. are t Jr the purpose of securing the unit toe fixed support.

What I claim is:

1:11. refrigerating C()1'1l] l' 1 con unit comprising a casting 'on for storing condensed gas and a chamber for cooling water. a crank case inte 'rall 1 formed with :3 1 the casting 1n the cooling chamber. a i l we o't' oppositely disposed compresmr cast into .lly with th crank ca ion in lint ported. above the-1 chamber by the crm. (fax-m. .L'L i'c'ti'igeiatn n" casting densed gas and a chamber for cooling a crank. case into rally termed wit mating in the cool: 1;: chamber, a eppos elr tlltwfnrsltl conqiz'essnnr cast ii'ilegrally with the crank case. c tinder heads COIllltiUiQtl with the outer ends of the law compression cylinders, and provided with chambers,valves-between the cylinders and the chambers, said chambers being adapted to be filled with oil'to form a seal, a condensing 'coil in the cooling chamber connected with the chamber for storing condensed gases and vertically disposed pipes forming a connection between the coil and the oil chamber in the cylinder head wherebyoil which is forced towards the cooling coil will readily drain back to the oil chambers. p

4. A refrigerating compressor condenser unit comprising a casting, a partition dividing the casting into a chamber for storing condensed gas and a chamben for cooling Water, a crank case integrally formed with the casting in the cooling chamber, a pair of oppositely disposed compressor cylinders cast integrally with the crank case, cylinder heads removably connected with the outer ends of the compression cylinders, the opposite ends of the casting being provided" with openings and closures remova-bly connected with the cylinder heads. 5. A refrigerating compressor condenser unit comprising a cast-ing, a partition dividing the casting into a chamber for storing condensed gas and "a chamber for cooling water, a crank case integrally formed with the casting in the cooling chamber, a pair of oppositely disposed compressor cylinders cast integrally with the crank case, cylinder heads removably connected with the outer ends of the compression cylinders, a'piston mounted for reciprocation in each cylinder, means for driving-the piston, said pistons provided with passages connecting the crank case with the compression chamber in the cylinder and a valve on the working face of each piston for controlling the passages.

6. A refrigerating compressor unit comprising a casting, a partition dividing the casting into a chamber for storing con-r densed gas and a chamber for cooling water, a crank case in the cooling chamber, a pair of oppositely disposed compressor cylinders connected by the crank case, cylinder heads provided with oil chambers, valves separating the chamber in the cylinder head from the compression cylinders, said chambers being adapted to be filled with oil to form a seal, pistons movable in the compression cylinders, means for operating the pistons, coils in the cooling chamber connected with the chambers in the cylinder heads, said 7. A refrigerating compressor unit cotnthe ppper end of the coils, and vertical conduits connecting the cross head with the chambers in the cylinder head, the lower ends of the coils being connected with the chamber for storing compressed gas, said vertical conduit providing drains to permit oil which has been forced upwardly toward the coils to drain back into the chambers in the cylinder heads.

thA refrigerating compressor unit com prising a casting, a partition dividing the casting into a chamber for storing condensed gas and a chamber for cooling water, a crank case integrally formed with the cast ing in the cooling chamber, a pair of oppositely disposed compressor cylinders connected by the crank case, cylinder heads provided with chambers mounted on the compressor cylinders, a valve between the chamber in the cylinder head and each compressor cylinder, a piston operatively mounted in each compressor cylinder, a plurality of coils mounted above the crank case and the cylinders, a cross'head connected with the upper ends of the coils, conduits connecting the chambers'in the cylinder head with the cross head, a cross head connected With the lower end of the coils, a conduit connecting said cross head with the chamber for storing condensed gases, the cooling chamber adapted to be supplied with a cooling liquid which completely embraces thev compressor cylinder, cylinder heads, crank case and coils.

9. A refrigerating compressor condenser unit comprising a casting, a partition formed integrally with the casting and dividing said casting into a chamber for storing con densed gases and a chamber for cooling water, a crank case integrally'formed withthe casting in the cooling chamber, a pair of oppositely disposed compressor cylinders integrally formed with the crank case in spaced ielation with the walls of the cooling chamber.

10. A refrigerating compressor unit comprising a casting, a paitition dividing the casting into the chamber for storing condensed gas and a chamber for cooling water, a crank case integrally formed with the casting in the cooling chamber, a pair of oppositely disposed compressor cylinders-connected by the crank case, a cylinderhead provided with chambers mounted on, the

' compressor cylinder; a valve between the chamber in the cylinder head and the comoperatively 1 pressor cylinder, a piston mounted in each compressor cylinder, a plurality of coils mounted above the crank case and the cylinders, a cross head connected with the upper end of the coils, a second cross head connected with the lower end of the coils, vertically disposed pipes connectchambers in the cylinder head, a rib formed integrally with the inner Wall of the casting and provided With a longitudinal bore-1n communication with the storage chamber and means connecting the other end of the bore with the second mentioned cross head.

HOWARD PAUL CULVER; 

